Blog
Ideas and views from across the left
Whose recovery is it?
Ian Lavery MP, 12 Mar 2014
Join me in Newcastle tomorrow to debate the question: whose recovery is it?
A collection of tributes to Bob Crow
Ellie O’Hagan, 11 Mar 2014
Figures from across the movement and the wider left remember the RMT leader.
On public sector pay, we need less talk of gold-plated pensions and more talk of unions
Andrew Fisher, 11 Mar 2014
The ONS has released a report on the difference between public and private sector pay. We need to look at the findings in detail and have a debate about the best way to increase wages for everybody.
What is the most pressing issue for British women today?
Rachel Yates, Roisin McDermott, Ellie O’Hagan, 10 Mar 2014
On International Women's Day, Class asked its all-female staff what the most pressing challenge facing women today is. Here's what they said.
We need action to reduce the costs of childcare
Matt Hawkins, 6 Mar 2014
Childcare is a vital mechanism for ensuring single-parent families can go to work and care for children. We are calling on the Chancellor to use his Budget on March 19 to invest an extra £200m into childcare so that all parents on universal credit will be able to claim back 85 per cent of their childcare costs, no matter what their income.
Inequality – not just bad, it’s bad economics too
Stefan Stern, 3 Mar 2014
The evidence is clear: inequality is bad for people and bad for the economy, and it's an opinion shared by the majority of people.
Mutual Housing Offers More than Markets
Kevin Gulliver, 28 Feb 2014
We need a mutual alternative to the market model of housing, so that housing is recognised as a common resource that can be organised ways to benefit disadvantaged communities, with a different set of rights and responsibilities from those applied to a provider-customer relationship. Social housing should be about more than markets.
The media should not be concentrated in a few powerful hands
Amy O’Donoghue, 26 Feb 2014
It’s the climate, stupid
Louise Hazan, 24 Feb 2014
As the flood waters finally begin to recede, we must start asking questions about the root causes of extreme weather.
Hopeful signs in the labour market, but things remain a long way from normal
Duncan Weldon, 20 Feb 2014
Although there are hopeful signs in the labour market, we need to ask what a real and sustainable recovery would look like.
A recovery that is still in recovery
Stefan Stern, 17 Feb 2014
Never mind “the wrong kind of snow” – we seem to have the wrong kind of economy. Without greater productive capacity, and better jobs, Britain will not be able to earn its way out of this economic dead end.
Trade unions must be at the heart of the debate on living standards
Tim Roache, 13 Feb 2014
By listening to our members’ concerns, unions are presenting solutions to the living standards crisis which will make a real and tangible difference to the lives of British people, and with our political voice we can secure the support of people who can turn those solutions into policy.
The Living Wage Commission will examine the reality of low pay in Britain
Cameron Tait, 10 Feb 2014
The Living Wage Commission has found that the economic recovery could fail one in five people in paid employment. With the economy showing signs of recovery, employers that can pay a Living Wage must do so.
Fair pay in higher education – why I went on strike today
Jonathan Shepherd, 7 Feb 2014
University staff are offered a 1% pay increase (which is a pay cut of 13% in real terms over the last 5 years), whilst the Vice Chancellor and other senior management enjoy an increase of up to 8%. Higher education staff are on strike because we want a fair pay deal.
I am proud to support the local government workers who protested today
Brian Strutton, 4 Feb 2014
Today tens of thousands of austerity-hit local government workers staged local protests across England, Wales and Northern Ireland about pay and cuts. I am proud to support them.
UK: manifestly inadequate
Andrew Fisher, 3 Feb 2014
The Council of Europe has found that UK benefits are "manifestly inadequate." Things are unlikely to improve as the government continues with its disastrous welfare reforms.
The keys are in the steam roller and the Theresa May is revving up the engine
Tom Watson, 30 Jan 2014
MPs are being asked to vote on an incredibly controversial amendment to the immigration bill with only a few hours' notice, without any opportunity to properly consider its effects.
BRIEFING: the 50p tax rate
Ellie O’Hagan, 29 Jan 2014
The latest Class briefing on the most important topics. Today: the 50p tax rate.
Blog:
Whose recovery is it?
Blog:
A collection of tributes to Bob Crow
Blog:
On public sector pay, we need less talk of gold-plated pensions and more talk of unions
